Distinguished 1947 Spartanburg High grad dies in Texas

Monday

Feb 11, 2013 at 9:19 PM

Victor Galloway lost his hearing at a very young age.

By TREVOR ANDERSONtrevor.anderson@shj.com

Victor Galloway lost his hearing at a very young age.But the 1947 Spartanburg High School graduate overcame his impairment and expanded the opportunities for deaf individuals across the United States.Galloway died in Austin, Texas, on Jan. 16, after a long illness. He was 84.A former chemist, educator and actor, Galloway was the first deaf superintendent in Pennsylvania history. He was appointed to President Lyndon B. Johnson's National Advisory Committee on Education of the Deaf, and portrayed the father of Meryl Streep's character in the 1994 movie “The River Wild.”Galloway's Spartan High classmates remember his intelligence, athleticism, determination, leadership and compassion. He is the second distinguised member of the class of ‘47 to pass away recently. Renowned Cuban-born public servant Pedro Sanjuan died in September.“(Galloway) was one of the nicest guys I ever met,” said Robert Harley, a co-founder of Carolina Alliance Bank in downtown Spartanburg. “Vic was determined to do anything that he wanted to do. He was a fellow that was always willing to step up and be recognized as a leader in our class.”Galloway was born in Atlanta on July 29, 1928, to Frances and Henry Galloway.When he was 10 months old, he lost most of his hearing as a result of damage done to his auditory nerve from an illness with prolonged fever. His family later moved to Spartanburg, where Galloway attended the S.C. School for the Deaf and Blind from 1935 to 1948.He is believed to be the first deaf Eagle Scout in the state and the first deaf student to graduate from Spartanburg High School, where he graduated with honors and several athletic letters. He did not have an interpreter and had to walk to school.

“He loved sports,” Harley said. “And he was good. He was as mean as a snake. I played football with him for three years. He always carried out his assignments and made tackles the way they were supposed to be made. He loved to be coached and could carry out his coach's instructions. He was an excellent student, who offered encouragement to all of us. He's one of those guys who I'll never forget. Vic was always willing to step up and make a contribution.”After high school, Galloway attended Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C. He made waves at the school for being the first white student to volunteer to share a room with a black student.Galloway graduated from the school in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. He had also served as president of the Kappa Gama fraternity and president of student body government.After college, Galloway went on to work as a high explosives chemist at the Naval Ordinance Laboratory in White Oak, Md.“He was fantastic,” said David Mitchell, one of Galloway's classmates at Spartanburg High. “He was an excellent student. He was a brilliant man. I'm still amazed at all he accomplished.”Galloway later moved back to Atlanta, where he became an analytical chemist for Lockheed Aircraft Corp. He worked there for six years before the company moved him to Sunnyvale, Calif.In 1966, Galloway earned his master's degree in education from California State University in Northridge. Six years later, he got his doctorate from the University of Arizona in educational rehabilitation and administration.While earning those degrees, Galloway assisted in developing programs in adult education in Los Angeles County. He also served as a research assistant in the Rehabilitation Center in Tucson, Ariz., and was called to the White House to witness the signing of The Mental Health Rehabilitation Bill.In 1970, Galloway became the first director of support services and later the director of education at the newly formed Model Secondary School for the Deaf at Gallaudet.He was later appointed to the U.S. Office of Education's review board for teacher training and in 1977 served in the planning committee for the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals.

Two years later, Galloway was selected to serve as superintendent of the Scranton State School for the Deaf.In 1981, he became director of the Texas School for the Deaf, where he garnered recognition for establishing a community education program, starting a bilingual sign classes and other achievements. He was that school's first deaf leader.“He was well-regarded by individuals in the public school system and at SCSDB,” said Margaret Park, president of SCSDB. “He opened up a lot of doors for the deaf. It didn't matter if it was the rights of deaf people or civil rights, he really was a champion for them … He did many different and incredible things. He always had the determination to go for the very best.”From 1993 to 1999, Galloway served as the branch chief of the Deafness and Communications Disorders Branch of the Rehabilitation Services Administration for the U.S. Department of Education.After retiring from the RSA, Galloway returned to his alma mater, Gallaudet, to become an adjunct professor. He was honored by his students as the teacher of the year.Galloway had three children, Dawn, who is deceased, Vance, who is deceased, and Shayne, of Oak Hill, Texas, with his first wife Gertie.He is survived by four grandchildren and his wife of 41 years, Marilyn.A celebration will be held in Galloway's honor at 2 p.m. Saturday at Weed-Corley-Fish funeral home in Austin.In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in his honor to the Alzheimer's Association, Gallaudet University and the Texas School for the Deaf Foundation.For more information, visit: www.wcfish.com.

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